Your first node: what to buy
1. Find out what your area runs
Section titled “1. Find out what your area runs”Meshtastic and MeshCore can’t talk to each other. Before buying, look up your area in the regional groups and see which firmware they use. In Arizona, both have active networks (see Arizona notes).
If you’re not sure, buy a device that supports both. Most popular boards do, and you can reflash later.
2. Pick a type
Section titled “2. Pick a type”| Type | What it is | Good if… |
|---|---|---|
| Finished handheld | Cased, with a battery and often GPS and a screen | You want it to just work |
| Card or tag tracker | Tiny, sealed, GPS, no screen | You’ll mainly use your phone and want something that clips on |
| Bare dev board | A circuit board with a radio; you add a case, battery and antenna | You like tinkering and want the lowest price |
| Standalone with keyboard | Has its own screen and keyboard | You want to message without a phone |
Our device chooser asks four questions and suggests three devices.
3. Get the right band
Section titled “3. Get the right band”4. Low power or Wi-Fi?
Section titled “4. Low power or Wi-Fi?”Most boards use one of two processor families:
- nRF52 (for example RAK4631, Heltec T114, T-Echo, T1000-E): very low power. Best for battery and solar. No Wi-Fi.
- ESP32 (for example Heltec V3/V4, T-Beam, T-Deck): has Wi-Fi, useful for MQTT gateways, but drains batteries faster.
5. What’s in the box
Section titled “5. What’s in the box”Usually the radio, a small antenna and sometimes a USB cable. Bare boards often ship without a battery or case. You’ll want:
- A USB-C data cable (some cables only charge)
- A battery if the board doesn’t include one (check the connector type)
- A case, for bare boards
Next: Install USB drivers, then flash Meshtastic or MeshCore.
Sources
Checked on October 18, 2026.